Digital Commons Network^™

Addressing Social Inequalities Using Ai, Big Data, And Machine Learning, Erica L. Jensen, Lakell Archer, Sumaya Ali

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

No abstract provided.

Occupational Prestige Among East, Southeast, And Mixed Asian Groups: Exploring Heterogeneity Within The Model Minority Narrative, Kyli Fox Soug

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The phenomena of Asians exceeding Non-Hispanic Whites in education and income has been thoroughly documented and researched. However, existing research has often overlooked whether this achievement translates into access to prestigious occupations. Moreover, the predominant focus on East Asian perspectives with educational attainment and success frameworks neglects the experiences of Southeast or mixed Asian individuals. This quantitative study examines the unique experiences of East, Southeast, and mixed-race Asian Americans, in gaining entry to prestigious occupations. It seeks to understand the diversity within the broader Asian American population and dispel notions surrounding the homogeneity of the Asian experience.

The Nordstjärna Project: Recovering Voices Of Swedish Migration, Benjamin Austin

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis investigates the Swedish-Mormon migration of the 19th century through the lens of Nordstjärnan, a periodical that served as a crucial link between the Swedish diaspora in Utah and their counterparts in Sweden during this era. This study compares Arnold Barton's observations of a love-hate relationship within the broader Swedish emigration to the diasporic relationship Swedish-Mormons had among themselves; suggesting that Nordstjärnan played a central role in portraying Swedish-Mormons as a symbiotic group compared to their countrymen. Nordstjärnan played this key role in reinforcing distinct Swedish-Mormon-American identity in both its positive reflection of the Swedish-Mormon identity and of immigration …

“The History Of Every Country Begins In The Heart Of A…Woman”: Willa Cather’S Reclamation Of The Female American Immigrant Through Edenic Western Narratives, Emma Fox

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis analyzes Willa Cather’s Great Plains Trilogy—O, Pioneers! (1913), The Song of the Lark (1915), and My Ántonia (1918)—in the context of the immigration boom of the early 1900s and the myth of an “American Eden.” This concept was born of cultural portrayals of the West as dominated by white, male pioneers who subdued the landscape, but Cather’s novels, centered around immigrant families, significantly revise this popular myth. Nativists saw the West as the source of American virtues such as democracy and diligence and viewed sending immigrants West as an essential tool for “Americanization,” the process by which …

International Asylum Law In The U.S. Supreme Court, Lorin Utsch

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The role of international law within the United States legislative system is unclear and fluctuating. The extent to which the United States keeps its international commitments is informed by the application of international law in the country’s highest court, the Supreme Court. The Court’s use of international law varies by case, but consistently applies international law so as to maximize domestic interests. These interests may be of strategic, legal, or ideological value. The Supreme Court cites international asylum law in order to clarify domestic statutes, safeguard domestic sovereignty, and to reemphasize the Court’s preference for domestic statutes over international legal …

Helpful Or Harmful? The Effect Of Heritage Language Use On Perceived Maternal Closeness In United States Immigrant Families, Catalina Valdez

Theses and Dissertations

Language use patterns and parent-child relationship quality in immigrant families are both subject to change over time, and past research on the impact of immigrant children's heritage language use on various measures of well-being yields mixed results. Extending scholarship on heritage language use and immigrant family dynamics, I examine the association between different language patterns in U.S. immigrant families and mother's reports of parent-child closeness. I analyze data from 1,142 mothers when their children are in kindergarten, third grade, and fifth grade using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study "“ Kindergarten Cohort of 2010-2011. I find little variation in perceived maternal …

Affichage: Posters As A Powerful Tool Of Protest, Politics, And Propaganda In France, Brigit Cooper

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This article explores the importance of French political posters throughout history and how they reveal complex connections between the subjects of immigration, colonization, and racism in France. An overview of the history of immigration and colonization in France is offered, and the history of posters in France is covered briefly. Posters from World War I to the present day are then analyzed for their political content and social commentary. The specific case of the 1995 Ibrahim Ali murder committed by far-right National Front activists and the posters involved are also studied as a potent example of the power of posters …

The Criminalization Of Female Genital Mutilation In Ohio: A Social And Political Analysis, Madsyn Selph

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This research examines the public attitudes towards the criminalization of female genital mutilation (“FGM”) in Ohio in 2018 with the passage of S.B. 214. Content from The Columbus Dispatch, testimony in favor of the bill, and an oral history with a current Ohio Senator who was a House Representative in 2018 were used as data in this research. Data are examined using group threat theory to better understand the attitudes of the Columbus public towards trends in immigration and FGM. Results find that anti-Islam and anti-African sentiments (and specifically anti-Somali sentiments) were widely found in these data, as well as …

The Politics Of Daca: Explaining Variation In Republican Support For Daca, Diana Gonzales

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study examines political divisions among Republicans regarding DACA. To begin with, I provide a historical account of the issue and its importance. Then a survey experiment is conducted, surveying 901 Republicans, and randomly assigning half to the Republican treatment and half to the Democratic treatment. Results indicate that exposure to the Republican treatment increased the likelihood of supporting policies for DACA recipients. Furthermore, knowing a DACA recipient positively impacted attitudes toward DACA policy regardless of treatment. These findings shed light on the complexities of political polarization and immigration policy.

Inadequate Immigration System For Asylum Seekers At The Us-Mexico Border, Kyli F. Soug

Ballard Brief

The history of immigration in the US goes back to its founding. However, in recent years, immigration trends at the US-Mexico border have gained media and political attention as more migrants flee to the border and face challenges as they seek refuge in the US. The inadequate immigration system has been exacerbated as legislation like the Migrant Protection Protocols and metering complicates the legal system and forces asylum seekers into border towns. Border patrol's misuse of resources and insufficient immigration data also contributes to the inadequate immigration system. Families and individuals seeking legal asylum at the border are being detained …

Inadequate Immigration System For Asylum Seekers At The Us-Mexico Border, Kyli Fox Soug

Ballard Brief

The history of immigration in the US goes back to its founding. However, in recent years, immigration trends at the US-Mexico border have gained media and political attention as more migrants flee to the border and face challenges as they seek refuge in the US. The inadequate immigration system has been exacerbated as legislation like the Migrant Protection Protocols and metering complicates the legal system and forces asylum seekers into border towns. Border patrol's misuse of resources and insufficient immigration data also contributes to the inadequate immigration system. Families and individuals seeking legal asylum at the border are being detained …

Angel Island: Gateway To Gold Mountain, Maryn Wheeler

Children's Book and Media Review

In the early twentieth century, Angel Island Immigration Station became the entrance point to America for most Asian immigrants. There they underwent medical examinations, interviews, and were detained in small barracks for weeks or months before entrance or deportation. The Chinese poems inscribed on the walls highlight the immigrant experience. Because of difficult living conditions and strict immigration laws, many had a tough time and experienced a harsh welcome to the American dream. After a building fire on Angel Island, it was shut down and soon exclusion laws were repealed. Visitors may tour Angel Island now as a reminder of …

Crossing Borders: The Overlap And Conflict Of International And Domestic Laws Regarding Refugees And Asylum Seekers, Yunha Hwang, Belle De La Rosa, Editor

Brigham Young University Prelaw Review

The policies of the United States regarding refugees and asylum seekers within the past decade have consistently conflicted with international standards, in regards to the 1951 Refugee Convention and the following 1967 Protocol. Especially in recent years, the United States has been producing a line of increasingly exclusive policies and caps that hinder the resettlement process and as a result, has been causing increased violations against the principles listed in Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). The paper analyzes the discrepancy and overlap between international laws and domestic laws in the United States. Especially at a …

Hotel On The Corner Of Bitter And Sweet, Emma Patton

Children's Book and Media Review

Henry is glad to be Chinese. Some people mistake him for being Japanese, but the difference is especially important now, during World War II. Since the United States is fighting against Japan, Japanese-Americans are ostracized even more than the other immigrants. Henry’s father harbors serious prejudice toward the Japanese, and he makes Henry wear a button that reads “I am Chinese.” When another Asian girl comes to study at Henry’s school, which is almost exclusively all-white, Henry is ecstatic. Even after learning that she is Japanese, Henry cannot help but be drawn in by Keiko’s sweet nature and fighting spirit. …

More Than One Way: How Migrants Are Able To Achieve Belonging Beyond Their Legal Status, Claudia Soto

Theses and Dissertations

Is legal status a master status for migrant belonging? If not, how do other factors--such as social networks, religious participation, language and cultural familiarity--shape belonging? Over the past few years, some migration scholars have suggested that legal status is a "master status"which determines migrant outcomes (Gonzales 2015). Other literature suggests that migrant outcomes are determined by a variety of factors, asserting that migrant experiences can be better understood by studying the interaction between these factors (Enriquez 2017; Valdez and Golash-Boza 2020). Utilizing 73 semi-structured interviews with migrants in Utah, I compare the experiences of refugees, permanent migrants, temporary migrants, and …

Preventing A Permanent Underclass: Why In-State Tuition For Daca Students Just Makes Sense, Christian Bowcutt, Eliza Allen

Brigham Young University Prelaw Review

In the landmark 1982 Supreme Court Case "Plyler v. Doe", the right to a free education was guaranteed to undocumented students. One of the reasons for this was to "prevent a permanent underclass". Today, we have a similar opportunity to lift our fellow peers by passing legislation to guarantee in-state tuition to DACA recipients. DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) is a program that grants temporary citizenship to qualifying children and youth who are brought to the United States with their parent(s) or guardian(s). Currently, the majority of states have not guaranteed this right to DACA students. With tuition rates …

Left At The Borders: Addressing The Issue Of Inclusivity For Female Immigrants, Elizabeth S. Castillo, Brooklyn Bird, Abby Forrest, Editor

Brigham Young University Prelaw Review

The United States laws, regulations, and political discourse surrounding migration is rife with varying sensitivities. These include but are not limited to the physically, emotionally, and mentally exigent circumstances that cause women and girls of many ages and nationalities to flee their home countries for the United States. Because of the structure of American immigration law and the impactful measures taken by the Trump administration, we argue the language found in the Immigration and Nationality Act neglects to address gender-specific persecution, which renders the already difficult process of seeking asylum still more challenging for women hoping to migrate to the …

An Analysis Of The Trump Administration’S Policies And Plans For Illegal Immigrants, Michelle Clifford

Student Works

The Trump Administration’s immigration policy, especially as geared towards Latin America, is currently ineffective. Its goal is to have zero tolerance for illegal immigration, yet it focuses most of its resources on building a wall to prevent illegal border crossings. Not only do illegal border crossers make up only 38% of illegal immigrants within the United States, the sections of the wall that already exist have shown to be little to no hindrance to those wishing to entire the United States illegally and thus pose an unwise expenditure of resources. President Trump himself has damaged relationships with Latin American leaders …

Differences In Immigrant Education By Destination Country: An Analysis Of Turkish Immigrants' Perception Of And Performance In Math And Science, Lisa Turley Smith

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis examines how the country to which Turkish immigrant students immigrate affects their educational outcomes – specifically, math and science test scores and four constructed variables that measure how much students enjoy math and science and their self-rated confidence in the subjects. I use data from the 2003, 2006, 2012, and 2015 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) exams. I examine Turkish immigrant students living in Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany and Denmark.

My findings are consistent with prior research showing that immigrant student test scores vary by destination country. I also find that Turkish immigrant students’ perceptions of math …

Does Immigration Help To Explain Child Stress?, Elizabeth Marie Koch Sigler

Theses and Dissertations

The impacts of childhood stressors are harmful to the emotional and physical well-being of children of all ages. Past research has suggested that children experience increased stress due to change. One subgroup of the United States population that experiences change, is immigrants. Research provides empirical evidence of adolescent immigrant stress but has failed to examine stress experienced by immigrant children at a young age. The present study investigates how immigration status and child immigration generation might impact child stress at a young age using OLS regression. I predict that immigrant children will experience more stress than non-immigrant children and that …

The Role Of Traditional Food In Jamaican Immigrants' Perceptions Of Health And Well-Being, Audrey Janice Simpson

Theses and Dissertations

Immigrants face many challenges when transitioning to life in a new country, and access to their traditional food can assist in facilitating a smoother transition. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact that access to traditional food has on the perception of health and well-being of Jamaican immigrants to the United States. Methods: Using a qualitative descriptive design, twenty Jamaicans (10 in New York; 10 in Utah) participated in semi-structured interviews, which were transcribed and analyzed. Results: Participants expressed a preference for traditional food. New York participants had greater access to Jamaican food and rated their health …

Us Versus Them: A Study Of The Basis Of Varying Perceptions Of Immigrants In Border Towns, Michelle Clifford

Student Works

94% of the United States population within ten miles of the US/Mexico border identifies as Hispanic. Even among these Latino-Americans, opinions of immigrants vary from extremely supportive to extremely opposing. What is the basis of these varying perceptions among Americans? This paper analyzes interviews conducted among residents of border towns in south Texas for opinions on how these perceptions have changed under the Trump administration, for any "us versus them" feelings, and for any other factors that may contribute to the construction of perceptions of immigrants.

The Census, Citizenship, And Improved Legislation: A Constitutional Compromise, Kaitlyn A. Marquis

Brigham Young University Prelaw Review

Why should the census avoid asking a question concerning citizenship?

Are there alternatives in providing information to aid government

functions while still protecting the rights of residents? In

early 2019, the Trump administration requested that the 2020 census

include an inquiry concerning the citizenship status of residents, for

claimed reasons of better legislation (i.e. the allocation of government

funds to the states and the drawing of electoral districts). The

Supreme Court considered this issue in Dept. of Commerce v. New

York. In sum, their opinion was, “not yet.” The Supreme Court did

not definitively conclude that it was unconstitutional to …

“Estamos Aquí Pero No Soy De Aqui”: American Mexican Youth, Belonging And Schooling In Rural, Central Mexico, Eric Ruiz Bybee, Erin Feinauer Whiting, Bryant Jensen, Victoria Savage, Alisa Baker, Emma Holdaway

Faculty Publications

This article explores notions of belonging and citizenship for “American Mexican” students— Mexican-heritage youth born in the United States who return to Mexico with their families. Our findings reveal belonging as a sociocultural practice that participants negotiated spatially and relationally, chiefly by making their US-born status more and less visible within particular spaces at school. The experiences of American-Mexican youth reveal the crucial roles of migration and belonging in shaping civic identities and future potentials in a transnational world.

Remembering Our Unsung Pioneer Ancestors, Jim Lewis

The Bridge

My great-grandparents, Niels Jensen Norgaard (1848-1920) and Karen Sorensen Norgaard (1852-1949) immigrated to America in 1869 and 1871, respectively. They had both been raised in the Aalborg area of northern Jutland. Niels left his family and a comfortable home at the age of twenty to travel alone to a new, yet unknown, destination. His immediate objective was Harlan, Iowa, where relatives had a farm. It was twelve hundred miles across unfamiliar land between New York City and Harlan, Iowa. Niels was alone in a strange land, didn't know the language, and had little money to sustain himself. He traveled on …

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Jorge Baron, Maria Kolby-Wolfe, Kristen Smith Dayley, Twila Bird, Tsos

TSOS Interview Gallery

The Northwest Immigrant Rights Program has been around for 35 years, started in 1984 specifically to help Central American refugees during the mid-1980s, when they were fleeing civil wars. A pro-bono group of attorneys performing "direct legal representation", helping low income community members who are navigating different aspects of the immigration system. NWIRP also engages in "systemic advocacy" which attempts to change systems and policies revolving around asylum and immigration rights.

The Field Guide To The North American Teenager, Amanda Bishop

Children's Book and Media Review

Norris Kaplan isn’t pleased with his new living situation. He is forced to move to miserably hot Austin, Texas, from his beloved Montreal, Canada (and ice hockey), after his mother finds a new job. To make matters worse, Norris’ father has a new wife and baby, which doesn’t leave much time for him. Norris isn’t quick to fit in with others because of his sarcastic approach to other teenagers, especially the typical American teenager he knows from films. But people are not always who you assume them to be. Norris’s abrasive personality makes him hard to like, especially when he …

Guys Read: Heroes & Villains, Erica Sonzogni

Children's Book and Media Review

This book of short stories compiles fictional accounts written by various authors. Each story includes a male main character who struggles with good and evil. One story is a fairy tale that involves a thief who turns into a hero by helping Little Red Riding Hood. The thief, known as The Bandit King, is a comical young boy who is a dictator over his own kingdom, but has a change of character when he encounters the strong-willed Hood. Another story is about a boy and his father who are escaping Mexico to come to the United States illegally. This child’s …

Europe's (Lack Of) Welfare Chauvinism: Evidence From Surveys And Spending, Ethan Davis

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Immigration’s effect on European welfare states is complicated. On one hand, increased immigration might undermine social solidarity and impose greater fiscal burdens on redistribution, reducing support for welfare spending. On the other, natives could respond to greater globalization with economic anxiety, increasing support for redistribution in order to mitigate risk. Welfare chauvinism predicts a mixed effect—increased spending for programs that middle-class natives use and reduced spending for programs that benefit immigrants disproportionately. I test this theory by analyzing (1) European attitudes towards immigration and welfare spending and (2) actual spending on these programs, particularly social housing. Additionally, I present a …

Explaining Variation In Support For Refugees And Recent Immigrants In The United Kingdom, Katy Smith, Joshua Gubler

Journal of Undergraduate Research

On the heels of the Brexit vote and growing anxiety accompanied with leaving the European Union, immigration in the United Kingdom persists as a breaking point between native Britons, immigrants, and recent asylum seekers. To dispel the fervent animosity between these groups, humanization needs to occur in order for each party to see the others as their equal and develop long-term peaceful solutions. Decreasing ethnic conflict is often accomplished through increased positive interactions between groups. The perception is that many more refugees are being admitted into the country and yet most Brits are not acquainted with any. Introducing citizens to …